Taking precautions against the flu

Brian Lee TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Published Saturday January 12, 2013 at 6:00 am

Updated Saturday January 12, 2013 at 10:04 am

Cliff Benoit walked out of the Big Y grocery store in Southbridge Friday evening, stopped in his truck and used a hand sanitizer before moving on to another store in the plaza. With increased cases of influenza in the state this season, including 18 deaths, and Boston declaring a public health emergency, Mr. Benoit said he is taking extra precautions.

Cliff Benoit walked out of the Big Y grocery store in Southbridge Friday evening, stopped in his truck and used a hand sanitizer before moving on to another store in the plaza.

With increased cases of influenza in the state this season, including 18 deaths, and Boston declaring a public health emergency, Mr. Benoit said he is taking extra precautions.

Mr. Benoit, who has been vaccinated against flu and pneumonia, said grocers are good about providing sanitizer at the entrances, but he sometimes forgets to use it on the way in.

“My hands are pretty clean right now,” he said.

In Worcester, Director of Public Health Derek Brindisi said Friday there are 380 confirmed cases of influenza in the city.

With the peak flu period occurring in February, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would classify this as a moderate to severe season, whereas last year was a mild flu season, said Mr. Brindisi, adding that the Boston emergency declaration has struck fear in the public health community.

Businesses, places of worship, schools and others are responding with germ-prevention measures.

Boston health officials said Friday a child under 6 has died after being diagnosed with the flu, but it's not confirmed if that was the cause of death. The 18 confirmed flu-related deaths in the state have all been adults.

Raymond L. Delisle, spokesman for the Diocese of Worcester, said a letter was sent to all 100 parishes and missions outlining guidelines for Sunday Masses during flu season.

Among the guidelines: The exchange of the Sign of Peace, usually involving handshakes between congregants, may be done without any physical contact.

When the priest celebrant extends the invitation for the Sign of Peace, those in the church may bow to others nearby instead of shaking hands.

Ministers were directed to use hand sanitizer prior to the distribution of the Holy Communion wafers.

When churchgoers prefer to take the bread of Holy Communion on their tongues or in their hands, ministers of the sacrament are advised to distribute the consecrated hosts with care, being as cautious as possible to avoid touching the tongue or hands of the communicant.

In addition, parishioners were reminded that if they are ill or suspect they are ill, they are not bound by the Sunday Mass obligation and should stay home.

Mr. Delisle said the precautions, which were also in place three winters ago, have been well-received.

Other places are also being cautious.

Staff at Boost Fitness on Millbrook Street in Worcester reminded members to wipe down machines after use. This is a general practice at all gyms.

But just in case, Boost staff went around every half-hour to wipe down the machines, said manager Nick DiLiddo.

They have also purchased extra hand sanitizer and frequently clean bathrooms, the manager said.

Diane Giampa, senior vice president of human resources and marketing at the bank, said 30 to 35 of the 85 employees at the Franklin Street branch in Worcester took advantage of the offer.

The bank also puts hand sanitizer at every station.

A couple of years ago, she said, the bank went through an extensive flu prevention plan, educating employees about the spread of flu. Employees were trained to cough into their sleeves, wash their hands frequently and make sure door handles, elevator buttons and other commonly touched objects were kept clean.

“Like everybody else, we kind of do the best we can and hope that increasing awareness might in some way help prevent the spread of any kind of disease,” she said.

James Bedard, facilities director for Worcester Public Schools, said the department had its custodial services division be extra diligent about cleaning common areas.

“From a facilities standpoint, we're trying to take what we already do, which is the general cleaning, and we're utilizing points of reinforcement (about) areas that many, many people touch, such as door handles, crash bars (an exit device on commercial doors), pull bars and handrails.”

Meanwhile, boards of health are busy responding to needs, said Andrew R. Pelletier, Auburn's director of public health.

Auburn has 30 to 40 diagnosed cases of flu, but Mr. Pelletier projects that 10 percent of the flu population goes to see a doctor, so he projects there are probably 300 cases in Auburn, a significant increase from last year.

On Friday afternoon at 1:30, Mr. Pelletier said the office had fielded 30 calls requesting vaccines. Thursday's flu clinic drew 70 people. The office is registering people for vaccines. The supply is expected to run out next week, he said.

Worcester's Mr. Brindisi said a continuation of increased flu cases is expected during the next week in the city.

“But at the same time we know how to control. You need to get vaccinated first and foremost. It's never too late to get vaccinated.”

If you're sick, stay home, and certainly don't send sick children to school, he said, citing research that shows every sick child will infect six others.

Sneeze or cough into your elbow, not your hands, and wash your hands in warm soapy water as often as possible, he added.

The Worcester Department of Public Health has vaccinated about 1,000 people, including schoolchildren and people in five towns that are contiguous to Worcester, he said.